The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-12-28
Some of the Causes That Lead to
Crime. -

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Crime. =
Editor Mirror
AS was looking out of the window to-
day watching the ''boys in stripes" at work
in the yard or running to and fro from cell
roomsto shop. Thought what great place
this isto study human nature. One at
tracted my attention more than others. be-
cause 1 knew him personally. perhaps on &C.
count of his age and sad history. have
the satisfaction of knowing that the primary
cause of his trouble came upon him while
in the discharge of the noblest of humanity's
duties, the defense of his adopted country.
And although an old man now l am sure
that he would gladly rally round the old
regimental coIors of the First Minnesota
again should his country need his services.
But alas! he is serving life sentence.
Not SO with all within these walls. Many
can only curse themselves for their past
dissipatiOns and wrong doing and regard
their wrecked lives as the natural sequence
of their sinful and licentious extrayagances
with wine, women, and the gaming table.
Still the proportion of this class is not near
ly so large as the religio-temperance ele-
ment of the world would have the balance
of humanity believe. their statistics to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Generally speaking the primary cause of
crime, with but few exceptions. is partial
insanity. Money is one of the principal
factors in producing state of partial insan-
ity, and hence should be reckOned as one of
the greatest of the primary causes of crime.
TO illustrate. there is another unfortunate
here with whose history l am fully ac-
quainted. He was Woodworking man
who had always borne a most excellent re-
putatiOn for industry and SObriety. His
wages were cut down in the shop where he
was employed just as winter was coming
on. He had large family dependent upon
him. and upon his greatly reduced wages
he feared that his children would be sub
jected to both cold and hunger and he pow
erless to help them. Imagining himself on
the verge of starvation he began to deny
himself even sufficient food to sustain his
strength. And soon this worry and priva-
ton upset his mental balance. His ideas of
right and wrong were shaken: he could see
10 alternative but to obtain means dishon-
estly or see his children Starve. Can you
wonder at the result? He is now ''doing''
nice little sentence. although upon his
trial, his wife. children. neighbOrs, and
even the sheriff testified that he was a
hard working, faithful husband and father.
Did he drink? No. Did he gamble? No.
Did he love his family. Aye-enough to
peril his soul rather than see them suffer.
His may be an extreme case; still there are
many cases in all prisons that greatly re-
Semble it. 1t is safe to say that poverty is
a great primary cause of crime, and poverty
that is not the result of whisky either.
But it will be Immediately said that
Figures won't lie." and figures say that
''whsky does it," / frankly admit that
figures of their own volitiOn will not lie,
any more than would the cat of her own
vOlitiOn. have put her paws INTO the fire, to
draw out the chesnuts, but when they are
''monkeyed" with they can be easily made
to convey impressions Numerically in oppO-
sitiOn to even the faintest resemblance of
truth. This statement may not suit the
ethics of certain lOng-haired men and short
haired women. yet nevertheless the fact re-
mains that at times figures do lie most out
rageOusly. Their ''monkeying" process
sometimes becomes evident and the old
adage suffers. Next week, with the editors
permission, will endeavor to give my rea-
sons why many crimes which are laid at the
door OF intOXicants can claim far differ
ent parentage. l am not a disciple of Ba-
chus, but | believe in giving the Devil his
due. Yours in retirement,
Dec. %. 1887. SAM JOHNSING.
An Inmates Views of Honesty.